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Wal Bass Club.

#15,661
Hi guys - don't post here much but I have a Wal Pro 1 with some modified electronics. I'd like to convert it to a IIe with Wal pickups/electronics/pickguard, and I wrote Electric Wood on their contact form. Didn't hear back, figured I'd email directly in case their system was down, and still no reply. Is this common with them that they don't respond (or maybe just to requests they don't want to do?). Anyone have any luck getting replacement parts like these from them?

Thanks!
 
#15,662
If by "spare parts" you mean screws or some minor hardware, sure. But they won't sell any electronics.
The only restorations I've seen them do was when folks sent in the bass for them to do the work on. But I don't think he'll do a conversion.
He doesn't have Pro pickups anyway, nor those old Pro circuit boards. Yes they're different from Custom model pickups. They don't have original Pro pickguards either.
I remember someone else asking for something similar and got response and being suggested to sell and look for a different model bass.
 
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#15,663
mikeswals said:
If by "spare parts" you mean screws or some minor hardware, sure. But they won't sell any electronics.
The only restorations I've seen them do was when folks sent in the bass for them to do the work on. But I don't think he'll do a conversion.
He doesn't have Pro pickups anyway, nor those old Pro circuit boards. Yes they're different from Custom model pickups. They don't have original Pro pickguards either.
I remember someone else asking for something similar and got response and being suggested to sell and look for a different model bass.
Click to expand...

Man, that's sad news. I was hoping there was at least a chance at getting a pro II pickguard. The material feels pretty unusual and hard to replicate.
 
#15,664
Bob_Ross said:
I sent Paul a "Put me on the list!" email several months ago and have not received any acknowledgement. Which is fine, I'm not in any hurry, and frankly if Paul suddenly said "Okay, the queue has opened up, I can have your new bass ready in ~24 months, send me a 50% deposit now" I'd probably hem and haw and postpone.
Click to expand...

Well, 4-and-a-half years later, I just got the the email from Paul today: "Your name came up on the list, I can have a new instrument for you late next year depending on specs."

Of course, a lot has changed in 4-and-a-half years, so I'm still hemming and hawing... (!)

But I wanted to run a few of my biggest concerns/questions past you guys before I give Paul a definitive Go/No Go for a new bass. (Obviously I'll discuss these questions with Paul also, but I wanted to poll some experienced users as well.)

I've read numerous anecdotes about three issues regarding shape & structure that concern me:
- Weight. I'm getting old, and would prefer not to buy another >10lb bass. Can anyone with a 4-string tell me the exact weight of their instrument?
- Neck Dive. I really want a Mk I, but I've heard the shorter horn leads to neck dive. Can any Mk I owners confirm or refute?
- Neck Profile. I've never played a Wal, but I've heard that the neck shape is a conspicuous deep sharp "V" that can be rather polarizing. How does that impact playability for you?

...and finally
- Price. I have a pretty good idea what this is going to cost me, and I have the money set aside with plenty of leeway for options (and shipping, and import duties, and tariffs, etc.) but I'd like to narrow those numbers down to something a bit more specific. Would anyone who's purchased a new Wal in the last ~6 years mind telling me within a reasonably specific ballpark range -- say, within $1,000 -- what you paid for the instrument?

Thanks.
 
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#15,667
You seem to basing ideas from people reporting what old Pete/Ian era Wals were.

If you want light, like 9lbs, then simply tell Paul it needs to be there.
Schaller had M4S Light tuners but have been discontinued, Paul still should have some, ask him to use those. Or you buy one of the remaining 2x2 sets floating around on Reverb and ship those to him.


Again, old era Wals have some sharp V's. You can get pretty much whatever you want. His standard neck shape is a very mild V and a 1-5/8 nut width. You can have him to a C shape, and you can have a Jazz width neck if you want.
 
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#15,668
Neck Dive. I really want a Mk I, but I've heard the shorter horn leads to neck dive. Can any Mk I owners confirm or refute?
Click to expand...
@Bob_Ross - I also worried about this in advance, but it ended up being fairly unfounded in my opinion. I always play with a strap, even while seated, and it feels very balanced. Just now, I took off the strap and sat the bass on my leg and it seems to behave exactly like my other 3 basses do. No comparison at all to a Thunderbird, for example.

Price. I have a pretty good idea what this is going to cost me, and I have the money set aside with plenty of leeway for options (and shipping, and import duties, and tariffs, etc.) but I'd like to narrow those numbers down to something a bit more specific. Would anyone who's purchased a new Wal in the last ~6 years mind telling me within a reasonably specific ballpark range -- say, within $1,000 -- what you paid for the instrument?
Click to expand...
I ended up opting into lots of trimmings which not only increase the instrument price, but also impact fees and taxes. I will share that in June of 2024, I was quoted the following base price for a Mk1 4 string.

The Wal 4 string Mk1 starts at £8250. This would include a choice of stock facings (wenge, American walnut, ash, lacewood), a clear satin finish, chrome hardware and a hard case.
Click to expand...

At the time of receipt (June 2025) I ended up paying about ~15% of the instrument price in tariffs/import fees.
 
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#15,671
Question for everybody:

What do you use for recording your wal bass? Preamps, pedals, software signal chain, I'm really interested in what is working for you all! I had been using a sansamp unit but recently been experimenting with more in-the-box options within Logic, just plugging the bass into my audio interface's preamp. Also relevant- do you record using the XLR output or the 1/4"?
 
#15,673
Hi all,

First time posting in this thread, so apologies in advance for the redundancy of my question. In May 2022, I requested to be put on the waitlist for a MK1 build...For those of you who were contacted for custom builds, how long was the wait to get the process started? I'd love to join the club and would think I might be getting close to my turn, but I know these things take time.
 
#15,674
Juice Box said:
Hi all,

First time posting in this thread, so apologies in advance for the redundancy of my question. In May 2022, I requested to be put on the waitlist for a MK1 build...For those of you who were contacted for custom builds, how long was the wait to get the process started? I'd love to join the club and would think I might be getting close to my turn, but I know these things take time.
Click to expand...
I was supposedly put on the waitlist to put down a deposit around then and I have heard nothing. I sent an email asking to confirm I was still on the list and never heard back. I’m assuming I got lost in the shuffle which is okay, I have no business spending that much on anything that’s not life-critical.















I’d like to though.
 
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#15,675
Juice Box said:
Hi all,

First time posting in this thread, so apologies in advance for the redundancy of my question. In May 2022, I requested to be put on the waitlist for a MK1 build...For those of you who were contacted for custom builds, how long was the wait to get the process started? I'd love to join the club and would think I might be getting close to my turn, but I know these things take time.
Click to expand...
A recent post (eight or so above yours) mentioned being contacted by Paul last month (October 2025), after a 4.5 year wait, which would have been mid-2020-ish for a waitlist entry time. If that timeline holds, you're looking at late 2026 for your turn to come up to start the build process.

My total time from first deposit placed to get onto queue to environmental acclimation in my house was 3 years 4 months so it seems the waiting time is a little longer, but it is well worth it!
 
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#15,676
Juice Box said:
Hi all,

First time posting in this thread, so apologies in advance for the redundancy of my question. In May 2022, I requested to be put on the waitlist for a MK1 build...For those of you who were contacted for custom builds, how long was the wait to get the process started? I'd love to join the club and would think I might be getting close to my turn, but I know these things take time.
Click to expand...

I got on the list in May 2022 as well. Haven’t heard a word since then.
 
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#15,678
syntap said:
A recent post (eight or so above yours) mentioned being contacted by Paul last month (October 2025), after a 4.5 year wait, which would have been mid-2020-ish for a waitlist entry time.
Click to expand...


Yeah, that was me. I just checked the dates: The original "We have added you to the waiting list and will contact you when we can accept orders" acknowledgement email from Paul was dated October 16th 2021 ...which was several months after I had filled out a Contact Me form on the Wal website, requesting that my name be added to their build queue.

And then the "Just checking to see if you still have interest in a Wal? We have a build slot available with completion aiming for late next year" follow-up email from Paul was dated October 14th 2025.

So somewhere between 4 and 4.5 years. And then add another ~1 year for Wal to actually build it.
 
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#15,679
Got this update from Paul 2 weeks ago. Its Nearly Complete. Im hoping to get it in my hands by the end of the month.
Mk2 4strinf.Chestnut Burl. Matching Backplate. Ebony Board with no inlays. Custom neck profile. Gold hardware. And some other bits im forgetting.
 

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